Review of Beginners (2011) by Matt C — 17 May 2012

As if relationships weren't tricky enough, Mike Mills', Beginners further shows the messiness of love when comparing its modern day image to that of past generations. Four years before Oliver's (McGregor) father, Hal (Plummer) passes away from cancer, he comes out of the closet and tries to live life to the fullest as an openly gay man.

Throughout these years, Oliver sees just how happy his father was and learns just what it means to love and to be happy in a relationship. The story is centralized around three main characters, who all seem to be struggling to find out what exactly they're looking for in love and how to embrace it.

Beginners does a nice job of using flashbacks to moments where Oliver and Hal discuss matters of the heart which ultimately end up helping Hal in determining his feelings for his girlfriend, Anna (Laurent).

Beginner's is a deeply emotional story about the romantic differences of generations, finding truth within yourself and finding out what makes the soul happy.